An interest table basically contains things that interest children usually based around a theme such as a season, weather conditions, happening in the local community or wider world etc.
Children can access the table contents independently - although they should first be introduced to the children so they understand what they are and why they are being displayed.
The interest table benefits the child because he is put in charge of his own learning - he can look things up, see how things feel, use the resources in different ways, ask an adult, involve other children, communicate about what he sees etc.
Hth
