Have children draw the shape of a dove's body on a stiff piece of paper and then cut it out. Two slits should be made where a dove's wings and tail go. Next, they cut a thinner piece of paper in half and fold each half like an accordion. Scissors can be used to create an effect on the edge of the paper. These accordions -- the wings -- can now be placed in the slits. Use tape to make a fan shape for the tail and to hold the wings in place. Children now draw on eyes, a mouth and other details.
A yogurt container or similar size and shape container painted white can become the base for a pair of doves. Have children cut an 8 inch long piece of construction paper for the ribbons. At the top, they will fold it into an inverted "V" shape. Use a hot glue gun to hold the V shape in place. With an adult's help for young children, use a hot glue gun to affix the container upside down to the center of a paper plate. Use two white cotton balls with felt eyes and mouths to create the two heads. Use white feathers to adorn the back of the yogurt container and suggest that children can use several ribbons to decorate the edges of the plate.
Ask children to draw a circle on a piece of poster board and to draw a dove in the middle of it. Using colored pencils, markers or other mediums, they can decorate the dove and the rest of the circle to their liking. Once finished, have students cut out the circle. Provide a hole puncher so that you -- or the children -- can make a hole at the top and string a ribbon through it so that the art work can be displayed. Small circles could be used as Christmas tree ornaments.
Have children crumble up newspaper to make the body of a dove. Next they tear some newspaper up into strips. Create a mixture using glue and water and have kids place two layers of this combination on the newspaper. Then they roll the newspaper into a small ball for the head and attach the head with tape. Children decorate the bird with vibrant colors, paper eyes and the like. A paper clip and piece of yarn can be used to turn this into an ornament.