First Grade Database Lesson

I've come up with a few ideas for my database lesson. Let me know what you think!

• Pumpkin database: Every year we have a pumpkin day where the students conduct many math activities with their pumpkin. I was thinking that this year I could have the students enter their information into a database (with the help of parents) and then we could do some investigating. I could set up an authentic problem by saying that Cox's Farm (a local farm) is trying to figure out the measurements/qualities of the best pumpkin. I could even come up with a Best Pumpkin formula that they had to complete. I would see if the farmer from Cox's Farm would send us pictures of the perfect pumpkin or any other items. Thoughts?
• Classroom Pet Database: I am in search of a classroom pet and thought that I could turn this into a great database lesson! I could have the students work in groups to research the types of pets (fish, bird, rabbit, hamster, turtle, hermit crabs, snake) that we could have in the classroom. They would use the database that either I create or they create to find the perfect pet. I would have qualities that I would be looking for in pets (quiet, active in the day, hypo allergenic, small, odorless, wild/tame) in the database. They students would have to filter through the database to find the perfect pet! At the end we would be able to get the classroom pet! Thoughts?
• Field Trip database: With the budget cuts we are only able to take one field trip. I could have the students research 5 different places we could go. I would then have different filters such as cost, location, indoor/outdoor, transportation, interest. At the end we would go on the field trip that we found to be best. Thoughts?

I am trying to decide if I want to create the database ahead of time or have the students create the database themselves. It would of course take some time to have the students create the database but I feel this would be a good lesson in itself. 

Any suggestions?