If the copper table is looking dingy and flat, students can restore the table through a cleaning process to bring out the shine of the metal. Students can use a mixture of warm water, soap and white vinegar and rub the mix gently over the copper with rags. The solution should dissolve grime and give the table back its shine.
A faux finish will give the copper of the table texture or depth. You can let students dip sponges into acrylic paint and dab it over the table to create texture. Or, students can use acrylic metallic paint in a shade. like bronze or pewter. and paint stripes onto the table to make a contrasting pattern.
You can instruct students in a shop class to make a new tabletop to go directly over the copper table. Using a wood plank, students can cut out a large square or circle that will fit over the table, then drill the new tabletop in place. The wood can be stained to complement the copper of the table or painted a contrasting color.
A decoupage technique can be added to the top of the copper table. Let students cut out images from magazines, then give each student a section of the table top to work with. The magazine clippings can be glued onto the table, so there is a collage over the top of the table expressing all of the students personalities. Cover the images with a thin layer of polyurethane so the papers won't peel off.