Dave (@davestuartjr on twitter) has a great blog that we've featured here before. This activity suggestion could be adapted for a wide range of grades, and it definitely puts the idea of argument in the spotlight from day one.
This site, launched recently by ASCD, is one you've got to spend some time exploring. As you would expect from an ASCD production, it's incredibly well-designed and contains a wealth of useful resources and tools.
This site, from the Elk Grove (CA) Unified School District, looks like an exemplary resource. Also demonstrates what I think national standards should be all about--sharing, collaborating, and publicly displaying our work. This site is worth a look.
This is a terrific post. I really think that if you have concerns about the standards, that's definitely O.K. Your voice needs to be a part of the conversation. What we all will hopefully do is look for the good that lies within, and continue to do what's best for children.